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FIFA World Cup Qualifying Preview: Peru v Ecuador

Ecuador can move within one point of Argentina at the top of the CONMEBOL World Cup qualification group when they take on Peru on Friday.

Reinaldo Rueda's men are currently four points behind Argentina - who meet Colombia later in the day - and have a game in hand on the two-time World Cup winners.

However, taking points from a Peru team that has lost just once at home in qualifying is likely to be a tough ask.

Sergio Markarian's side also hold hopes of qualification, as they trail Venezuela - who occupy the intercontinental play-off spot in fifth place - by just four points having played one game fewer.

And fans can expect an exciting high-stakes encounter in Lima, with both sides also heading into the contest in relatively good form.

Peru are unbeaten in their last five games and were victorious in their previous qualifier, a 1-0 win over Chile in March which came courtesy of Jefferson Farfan's last-minute strike.

Ecuador's recent showings have been even more impressive, with their friendly defeat at the hands of Germany last time out ending a run of nine games without defeat.

Paraguay, Chile, Colombia and Portugal were all put to the sword during that run, with strikers Felipe Caicedo and Christian Benitez playing a prominent role in helping Ecuador surge up the standings.

Manchester United wideman Antonio Valencia is the most high-profile name in the visitors' attack, but Peru have plenty of quality of their own in the form of Farfan and Bayern Munich striker Claudio Pizarro.

The onus will be placed on that forward pairing to deliver the goods, but Markarian will know his charges face a difficult encounter with a team against whom they lost 2-0 earlier in qualifying.

That result was back in 2011, though, and a rejuvenated Peru should be more than confident of taking something from the game in front of their own fans at the Estadio Nacional de Lima.